Thatscricket - News - Ed Smith keen to win back his Test place

London:Discarded England batsman Ed Smith is aiming to use the forthcoming 'A' tour of Malaysia and India as a springboard for regaining his Test place.

Smith, 26, made his England debut in last season's home series against South Africa where the Kent player managed a top score of 64 in three matches.

But Graham Thorpe's comeback century at The Oval effectively ended Smith's hopes of going on the full squad's tours of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies

Smith, who averaged 61 in England's County championship last season, now finds himself something of a 'senior pro' admist an otherwise largely youthful 'A' squad, but did his best on Monday as the squad departed for Malaysia to put a brave face on his demotion.

"I'm very positive and upbeat about it all," he said. "I loved playing the three games for England last summer.

"I was very disappointed, as any human being would be, when I found out I wasn't in the tour squad.

"But I also feel that having had a taste of international cricket it's amazingly moreish and it makes you want to be there all the time.

"It makes you want to play at that level of intensity and that level of attention and scrutiny. I really enjoyed that side of it and I enjoyed the whole thing surrounding the games as well as the sense of isolation and pressure. I want to get back there.

"Anything I can do to get back there I will give a go. The first thing I need to do is get as many runs as possible and be part of a winning and successful tour in India with England 'A'. If that doesn't get me there then I'll go back and do the same for Kent."

After a week of preparation in Malaysia, England 'A' will go to India where they will compete in the Duleep Trophy, the country's main first-class domestic competition, and play three One-day matches against India 'A'.